Multiplan

A fundamental difference between Multiplan and its competitors was Microsoft's decision to use R1C1 addressing instead of the A1 addressing introduced by VisiCalc. Although R1C1-style formulae are more straightforward than A1-style formulae for instance, "RC[-1]" (meaning "current row, previous column") is expressed as "A1" in cell B1, then "A2" in cell B2, etc. most spreadsheet users prefer the A1 addressing style introduced by VisiCalc. Microsoft carried Multiplan's R1C1 legacy forward into Microsoft Excel, which offers both addressing modes, although A1 is Excel's default addressing mode. ==Reception==

In a 1983 evaluation of eight spreadsheets for Heath/Zenith computers, Sextant approved of Multiplan's computation speed and menu structure, finding them comparable to SuperCalc's. While expensive compared to others, the magazine noted that as the only spreadsheet with a 16-bit version already available, upgrading would be simple. Sextant concluded that "If your budget can handle the cost, Microsoft's Multiplan wins this race by a couple of lengths". Ahoy! in 1984 called the Commodore 64 version, distributed by Human Engineered Software, a "professional quality spreadsheet ... There is not enough room in this article to mention all the mathematical operations performed ... Documentation is lengthy but well written". A second review in the magazine noted the limitation of the computer's 40-column screen, but praised the ability to stop any ongoing action. It also praised the documentation, and concluded that "its ease of use and foolproof design make Multiplan an outstanding value". BYTE said that "Multiplan for the Macintosh is a winner", stating that combining other versions' power and features with the Macintosh's graphics and user interface "rivals, and in many ways exceeds, anything else available in the spreadsheet genre". A 1990 American Institute of Certified Public Accountants member survey found that 7% of respondents used Multiplan as their spreadsheet. ==See also==